News

Marware has announced the immediate availability of its Sidewinder case for the fifth-generation iPod and iPod nano. The Sidewinder (iLounge Rating: A-) is a hard case featuring a retractable kickstand, “slide-and-hide” headphone cord wrap, and flip–open dock connector cover. The case comes in black or white and also includes Marware’s Multidapt belt clip system. The Sidewinder for the 30GB and 60GB iPod sells for $30, while the Sidewinder for the iPod nano costs $25.

Despite a recent push for variable song pricing by some in the music industry, Apple has reportedly renewed contracts with the four major record labels to keep songs on the iTunes Music Store priced at 99 cents each. “The agreements came after months of bargaining, and were a defeat for music companies that had been pushing for a variable pricing model,” reports the Financial Times. Of the music industry’s big four record labels, executives at Warner Music, EMI and Sony BMG have all expressed their support for variable pricing. Apple CEO Steve Jobs last year famously called the record companies “greedy” for considering to raise song prices.

Update: Apple has released an official statement confirming the news. “We’ve renewed our agreements with the major music companies and we’re pleased to continue offering iTunes customers music at 99 cents per song from a library of over 3 million songs,” an Apple representative said in a statement.

As expected, ABC has launched its free streaming video service offering full episodes of Desperate Housewives, Lost, Alias, and Commander-In-Chief. The shows contain ads and are in a Flash format that cannot be downloaded. [via Gizmodo]

The worldwide MP3 player market will jump from 140 million units in 2005 to 286 million by 2010, according to a new report by In-Stat. The firm says “drivers for this market include falling price points, the availability of legitimate subscription and pay-per-download online music sites, increasing Flash memory capacities and enhanced functionality.”

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu believes that the next version of the iPod nano will gain more storage capacity and basic video playback features. “We continue to believe that the iPod nano is in need of a refresh with either an increase in storage capacities and/or price cuts to regenerate interest,” Wu said in a research note to clients. “Our most recent checks indicate that the current 2GB and 4GB models will see their storage doubled to 4GB and 8GB capacities. We are also picking up that basic video playback capability will likely be added to further differentiate against competitors. We anticipate these new nanos will become available in the September quarter and become top sellers, particularly if Apple keeps its price points low at $199 and $249.”

Facing Apple’s increasing dominance in the digital music world, Napster has shifted to an advertising-supported model that allows visitors to its website to listen to any of the 2 million songs in its catalog for free. But unlike the original Napster, which famously offered unauthorized song downloads, visitors can currently only listen to a song five times—after that, the track must be purchased for 99 cents or visitors must sign up for a subscription plan ($10-$15/month). “Napster clearly had to find something different,” says American Technology Research analyst P.J. McNealy. “But until the device market for non-iPods picks up, Napster faces an uphill battle.”

To celebrate the upcoming launch of iLounge’s Free iPod Book 2.0, we’re holding two big contests and giving away six pairs of Shure’s high-end E500 earphones and one brand-new Mac mini. In the “iPod 2010 Concept Art Contest,” we’re looking for the four best “future iPod” pieces of original concept art. A grand prize winner will get the Mac mini, while the most realistic, most creative and funniest entries will get a set of Shure earphones. Our “iPods Everywhere Photo Contest” seeks pictures taken of iPods in the car, in the home or on the go. The winner in each of the three settings will also win a set of Shure earphones.

Koyono has announced three new Spring and Summer jackets with integrated iPod controls. The new BlackCoat Sport ($225) is a button-up jacket made of waterproof nylon. It offers full iPod control and has five pockets. The BlackCoat Sport Surf Edition ($170; shown) is a short-sleeve hybrid shirt/jacket made of a breathable stretch cotton material with water repellant technology. It has several pockets, iPod connectivity, and “gives you a place to stow belongings you would otherwise have to drop in a bag or dangle off of you somehow.” The BlackCoat Work ($190) is a stretch cotton version of Koyono’s original jacket. Like the others, it has built-in iPod controls, and features a classic cut, waterproof coating and five pockets.

Six lawsuits filed against Apple over iPod nano problems have been consolidated and transferred to the Northern District of California. The case will now be heard by Judge Ronald Whyte in San Jose. “Three lawsuits have been filed in California and one each in New Jersey, New York and Louisiana on behalf of customers who claimed their iPod nanos scratched excessively with normal use,” reports CNET News.com. “The suits also allege that Apple failed to disclose and repair the alleged defect and that Apple failed to abide by the warranty.” Meanwhile, Macworld UK reports that the judgement in the Apple Computer vs. Apple Corps case will take place on Monday, May 8. “Justice Edward Mann has been deliberating on the case since before Easter,” the publication notes. “At the ruling he will reveal if he has decided to grant an injunction barring Apple Computer from using its logo within iTunes.”

Apple launched the iTunes Music Store three years ago today on April 28, 2003. The store launched with over 200,000 songs and “groundbreaking personal use rights.” In addition to expanding the store to 20 other countries, Apple’s U.S. iTunes Music Store now offers over 2.9 million songs, 60,000 podcasts, 9,000 music videos, and over 70 television programs from ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, MTV, ESPN and Showtime. More than 1 billion songs have been sold to date.

During Apple’s annual shareholders meeting yesterday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs described Apple’s upcoming products as “the best I’ve ever seen in my life,” and said that he had no interest in becoming an executive at Disney. While Jobs didn’t go into detail, he hinted at an Apple media center device and mentioned that an “exciting” television ad campaign would launch next week. Jobs said that after Disney completes the acquisition of Pixar, where he is also the CEO, he actually plans to spend more time at Apple. In response to a concerned shareholder question about his role at Disney, Jobs said “it’ll require less of my time than Pixar did.”

Tekkeon has announced a limited edition black version of its myPower rechargeable battery and portable dock for iPods. The all-in-one accessory provides more than 9 hours of extra video playback and up to 42 hours of extended music playback, according to the company. In addition to extra battery power, myPower features FireWire and USB 2.0 connections to sync your iPod with your computer, a line out for use with external speakers, and a 5V charging output to charge a mobile phone or other devices. myPower sells for $70 and works with 3G, 4G and 5G iPods and the iPod mini.

After a successful upgrade yesterday evening, iLounge’s Discussion Forums today have a new look, new topics, and new features. Faster and easier to use than ever before, the Forums now benefit from expanded search capabilities, more efficient layout, and other design tweaks.

Proporta has announced its Color Change Silicone Case, a new protective skin for the iPod nano that gradually changes colors according to its temperature. The case is available in hot pink, deep blue and charcoal, and features a removable lanyard and access to all iPod controls and ports. “As the temperature rises, the case changes color (gradually getting lighter) allowing you to buy just one case but own a multitude of colors,” the Proporta says.

Marware has announced the immediate availability of its C.E.O. Folio case for fifth-generation iPods. Designed with the “mobile executive” in mind, the C.E.O. Folio offers a lined notepad and pen, pockets to store ID and credit cards, and iPod holster. It features a full–grain black leather exterior, microsuede interior, iPod screen protector, and snap closure. The C.E.O Folio fits both the 30GB and 60GB iPod models and sells for $40.

Tekserve, a large independent Apple Specialist in New York City, has created a new ad that features close to two hundred iPods, estimated to have an original value of $50,000, falling like dominoes. The 15-second commercial will begin running every 20 minutes on the large LED display outside of Madison Square Garden from May 1 through June 30. “Despite our rather rough treatment of the iPods, I want to assure Apple lovers everywhere that no iPods were hurt during the filming of this commercial,” said Tekserve’s Dick Demenus.

An executive from Samsung revealed today the company has won the contract to provide the processors in Apple’s next-generation iPods, apparently taking the partner position that PortalPlayer said it lost last week. “I knew that we would win this design,” Jon Kang, senior VP for the technical marketing group at Samsung Semiconductor, said during a presentation at the SEMI Strategic Business Conference. “We won the design with the iPod.” Kang referred to the company’s chip as a “PortalPlayer killer” and said that Samsung, which already produces NAND flash-memory chips for the iPod nano and iPod shuffle, has been working with Apple for a long time. “It’s a huge win for us,” he said.

Bella Corporation has introduced Catapult, a new device that allows users to capture video footage from DV or HDV video cameras directly to iPods and other USB-based storage drives. The Catapult, which comes with a piggy-back neoprene pouch to hold an iPod or 2.5-inch hard drive, features options for time lapse and remote trigger-based recording, as well as pre and post record functionality. It is powered by either its built-in rechargeable batteries or an included AC adaptor, and works with DV and HDV format cameras that include a FireWire connection, such as those from Sony, Canon, JVC, and Panasonic. The Catapult will be available in the second half of 2006 for “under $300.”

TV Guide magazine has announced a new weekly column called “Downloads,” which will feature information about television shows available for download or online viewing each week.

Following a vague report in March that said Quanta Computer had secured a contract from Apple to manufacture “video iPod devices,” the Chinese-language Commercial Times reported today that the order has been shifted to an “unspecified EMS provider.”